VOL. 30, NO.6 JUNE 2002 STRAIGHT & LEVELlButchJoyce 2 VAA NEWS/H.G. Frautschy 5 MYSTERY PLANE/H.G. Frautschy 6 CHAPTER LOCATOR 8 SUN 'N FUN COVERAGE AWARDS LISTING H.G. Frautschy 14 HAVE HEllO, BIG FISH, AND BEAUTIFUL RIVER : LOOKING FOR HOUSE GUEST THE HICKSON-HEllO LODGE CONNECTION Budd Davisson 20 PANCAKES & AVGAS/H.G. Frautschy 22 PASS IT TO BUCK/Buck Hilbert 23 NEW MEMBERS 24 CALENDAR 27 CLASSIFIED ADS 30 VAA MERCHANDISE WWW.VINTAGEAIRCRAFT.ORG Publisher TOM POBEREZNY Editor-In-Chlef scon SPANGLER Executive Director, Editor HENRY G. FRAUTSCHY VAA A dmbJlstratlve Assistant THERESA BOOKS Executive Editor MIKE DIFRISCO Contributing Editors JOHN UNDERWOOD BUDD DAVISSON Graphic Designer OLIVIA L. PHILLIP Photograpl,y Staff JIM KOEPNICK LEEANN ABRAMS Advertlslng/Edltorial Assistant ISABELLE WISKE STRAIGHT Be LEVEL BY ESPIE "BUTCH" JOYCE PRESIDENT, VINTAGE ASSOCIATION Milestones As we approach EAA AirVenture brating the 75th anniversary of Lind­ Oshkosh 2002 we look forward to bergh's historic flight from New York many aviation milestones. I've heard to Paris. Lindbergh had to have total it said that time seems to pass by at confidence in his ability and equip­ ever increasing speeds as one gets ment to pull this one off. You can older. It certainly seems that way to read all the books, listen to expert me, for the idea of EAA celebrating opinions, and talk about it at the bar, there and enjoy the summer with your 50 years of conventions just doesn't but the truth is that only Lindy knew plane and aviation buddies, and then seem possible. Can it really be that why he wanted to do this trip. Only in only a month and a half, come to long since a few members gathered he knew what he was thinking when EAA AirVenture and spend the week. with Paul Poberezny to share his vi­ he pushed that throttle forward on That one week will seem like only a sion of what recreational aviation that famous morning. Well, if you are couple of days. We'll do our best to could be? There was plenty of en­ at EM AirVenture Oshkosh this year, make you feel welcome. Come join us thusiasm in that small band of you will be part of the 75th anniver­ for breakfast at the VAA's Tall Pines aviators, and we are helping EAA re­ sary celebration of Lucky Lindy. Cafe, which will be located just south create that special event of 1953. Seventy-five years doesn't seem that of the ultralight runway. Sit for a spell During EAA AirVenture 2002, just long ago, especially for those of you on the porch of the VAA Red Barn, or north of the VAA Red Barn will be a who recall seeing him fly the Spirit visit with friends in the Type Club display of aircraft and artifacts from overhead during his 48-state tour in tent. Have a glass of lemonade while that very first EAA convention in the summer of 1927. enjoying the afternoon air show, or Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Some of the Of course, the biggest milestone is take a walk through the antique air­ same airplanes from that fly-in will coming at us qUickly-100 years of plane parking area. And if there's be there, and others that are similar powered flight. At EAA AirVenture something you need or want to sug­ will round out this nostalgic display. this year, see what your organization gest, stop by the VM Red Barn and let Not surprisingly, many of the air­ will be doing to celebrate the 100th us know. A smiling volunteer will do planes that were brought to that anniversary of the Wright brothers' his or her best to make it happen. first fly-in were what we now call first powered flight. The final celebra­ If you really want to make it a spe­ vintage airplanes, even though they tion will, of course, be a flight of the cial week, volunteer. It doesn't matter were only a few years old back then. Wright Flyer reproduction built by if you can only give us a few hours or Some of them were a Piper J-5 Cub The Wright Experience, and it will be the whole week, we're always looking Cruiser, a 450-hp Stearman, a Rose flown at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, for help. Stop by the volunteer center Parakeet, and a Thomas-Morse on December 17, 2003. The story of .and say, "I'll help. Where do you need Scout. That Scout seemed old then, how this will be accomplished arrd me?" You won't regret it, and I'll bet but when we add another 50 years, the amount of history that has ,come you'll have a great time. it seems positively ancient! to light is a most interesting story that Talking about these historic avia­ Certainly, the enthusiasm for air­ you have to see. tion celebrations really gives you a planes that you can restore or build While you are at EAA AirVenture sense of why we at the Vintage Air­ yourself hasn't waned-we park more Oshkosh you can view all of this in­ craft Association are dedicated to than 1,000 showplanes in our area formation at EAA's Countdown to preserving the history of aviation and during EM AirVenture, most of them Kitty Hawk Pavilion. Since it's well to keeping our older aircraft flying for vintage airplanes. And our friends on out of my life's span so far, 100 years the youth of tomorrow. We want the homebuilt side of the field are cer­ seems like a long time to me. Isn't it them to enjoy the same pleasures we tainly active. Van's Aircraft has sold amazing that the history of practical have enjoyed. more than 7,000 RV kits, making the heavier-than-air aviation has only Let's all pull in the same direction RV one of the most popular aircraft spanned a century? for the good of aviation. Remember, ever designed and built. Time really does go by fast when we are better together. Join us and This year we have also been cele- you're having a good time. Get out have it all. ...... VINTAGE AIRPLANE VAA NEWS COMPILED BY H.G. FRAUTSCHY VAA ELECTIONS VAA ANNUAL MEETING NOnCE In this issue you'll find candidate Notice is hereby given that an annual business meeting of the members of biographies and a ballot for this year's the EM Vintage Aircraft Association will be held on Monday, July 29, 2002, at VAA election ~ , which will be ratified 9:30 a.m. COT in the tent next to the VM Red Barn Headquarters during the at the annual business meeting held 50th annual convention of the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc., Wittman during EM AirVenture Oshkosh. Regional Airport, Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Notice is hereby further given that the EAA AIRVENTURE PLANNING annual election of officers and directors of the EAA Vintage Aircraft Associa­ The Internet has allowed us to tion will be conducted by ballot distributed to the members along with this streamline planning for your trip June issue of Vintage Airplane. Said ballot must be returned properly marked to EAA AirVenture. Visit EAA's of­ to the Ballot Tally Committee, Vintage Aircraft Association, P.O. Box 3086, ficial convention website at Oshkosh, WI 54903-3086, and received no later than July 19, 2001. The www.airventure.org for up-to-date in­ formation regarding convention Nominating Committee submits the following list of candidates: for preSident, highlights and events, including the Espie "Butch" Joyce; for secretary, Steve Nesse; for directors (eight total), 50th anniversary celebration of the Steve Bender, John Berendt, Dave Clark, Steve Krog, Jeannie Hill, Bob Lum­ EAA fly-in and convention. A com­ ley, Dean Richardson, and Geoff Robison. plete schedule of forums is also Pursuant to EM bylaws, the annual business meeting and elections for the presented throughout the week. New Experimental Aircraft Association (EM) will be held at the Theater in the features and tools are being added to the website on a regular basis, so be Woods at 1:00 p.m. COT on Sunday, July 28, 2002, at Wittman Regional Air­ sure to check back often. Also, use the port, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, during EM AirVenture Oshkosh 2002 to be held EAA Flight Planner to flight plan your July 23 through July 29. trip. You can access it through the VM website at www.vintageaircraft.org. Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic Charles W. Harris flight, and very shortly afterward VM Hall of Fame FRIENDS OF THE RED BARN John was actively flying some un­ P.O. Box 470350 We are pleased to announce that usual aircraft, including autogiros. Tulsa, OK 74147-0350 many of you have responded to the His pre-eminence and leadership for Be as thorough and objective as VAA's annual appeal for help with more than 75 years of active flying possible. Attach copies of materials funding VAA activities during EAA participation and involvement is you deem appropriate and helpful AirVenture. In the July issue, we'll be unmatched by his contemporaries. to the committee. publishing a list of volunteers who John has consistently shared his per­ The person you nominate can be have participated in the VAA Friends spective and knowledge of aviation a citizen of any country and may of the Red Bam. Remember, any funds and flying with his peers through be living or deceased. The nomi­ sent and received prior to July 1, 2002, his lectures and articles, most re­ nee's contribution could be in the will be applied to the 2002 campaign, cently with his fellow American areas of flying, design, mechanical and those received after that date will Bonanza Society members.